Mid-season MotoGP tests take place this week

MotoGP may officially be on its summer break, but Honda, Yamaha and 2015 manufacturer Suzuki will all be in action during private test sessions this week.

Test teams from Honda and Yamaha will be on track at Motegi in Japan on Tuesday and Wednesday, headlined by the return of retired double world champion Casey Stoner to an RCV.

Yamaha will also be testing with factory race riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi at Brno in the Czech Republic this week, when they could try the M1's new seamless shift gearbox for the first time.

Suzuki will continue preparations for its grand prix return with Aspar racer Randy de Puniet and factory development rider Nobuatsu Aoki.

The second half of the 18-round MotoGP season starts at Indianapolis on August 16-18.